Road to the World Series Runs Through St. Louis

Without a doubt, the St. Louis Cardinals are having a season to remember. But are they the best team in the National League? You could make the case that they are as good as, or even better than, the Dodgers or Phillies. Obviously, the race for home field advantage is very tight in the National League, within two-and-a-half games. So, throwing records out the window, you could make the case for any team to win the National League. Especially if that team plays beneath the Gateway Arch. Saint Louis is well on its way to their eighth divisional title and has the pitching to tussle with anyone in baseball. They have the hitters and the lineup, to compete with those of the Phillies, Yankees, or Angels. Their additions of Matt Holliday and Mark DeRosa greatly improved a lineup that already included Albert Pujols, the best player in baseball. But what makes the Cardinals better than the Phillies and the Dodgers?   Hitting: Among these three teams, the Cardinals are a solid second. ...